雅各書 2

不可重富輕貧

1 我的弟兄們，你們既然對我們榮耀的主耶穌基督有信心，就不應該憑外貌待人。2 如果有一個手戴金戒指、身穿華麗衣服的人，進入你們的會堂；又有一個衣衫襤褸的窮人，也進去了。3 你們就看重那穿華麗衣服的人，說：“請坐在這好位上。”又對那個窮人說：“你站在那裡。”或說：“坐在我的腳凳下邊。”4 這不是你們對人有歧視，成了心懷惡意的審判官嗎？5 我親愛的弟兄們，請聽：　神不是揀選了在世上被認為貧窮的人嗎？這些人卻在信心上富足，而且是承受　神的國的人。這國是　神應許賜給愛他的人的。6 然而你們卻侮辱窮人。其實，那些欺壓你們，拉你們上法庭的，不就是富足的人嗎？7 難道不是他們褻瀆那召你們的尊名嗎？8 你們若照著聖經所說“要愛人如己”這話，去完成這至尊的律法，你們就作對了。9 如果你們憑外貌待人，就是犯罪，律法就要裁定你們是犯法的。10 因為凡是遵守全部律法的，只要在一條上失足，就違犯所有的了。11 就像那說“不可姦淫”的，也說“不可殺人”；你縱然不姦淫，卻殺人，還是犯法的。12 你們既然按著使人自由的律法受審判，就應照著這律法說話行事。

13 因為對不行憐憫的人，審判他們的時候就沒有憐憫；憐憫勝過審判。
信心沒有行為是死的
14 我的弟兄們，人若說他有信心，卻沒有行為，有甚麼益處呢？這信心能救他嗎？15 如果有弟兄或姊妹缺衣少食，16 而你們中間有人對他們說：“平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖，吃得飽。”卻不給他們身體所需用的，那有甚麼用處呢？

17 照樣，如果只有信心，沒有行為，這信心就是死的。
18 也許有人要說，你有信心，我有行為；請把你沒有行為的信心指給我看，我就藉著我的行為，把我的信心指給你看。19 你信　神只有一位，你信的不錯；就連鬼魔也信，卻是戰兢。20 愚昧的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是沒有用的嗎？21 我們的祖先亞伯拉罕，把他的兒子以撒獻在祭壇上，不是因行為稱義嗎？22 你看，他的信心與行為是一致的，信心就因著行為得到完全了；23 這正應驗了經上所說的：“亞伯拉罕信　神，這就算為他的義。”他也被稱為　神的朋友。24 可見人稱義是因著行為，不僅是因著信心。25 照樣，妓女喇合接待了探子，又從另一條路把他們送走，不也是因行為稱義嗎？

26 身體沒有靈魂是死的，照樣，信心沒有行為也是死的。

James 2

Prejudice and the Law of Love

1 My brothers and sisters,t do not show prejudicet if you possess faitht in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.t2 For if someonet comes into your assemblyt wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say,t “You sit here in a good place,”t and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?t4 If so, have you not made distinctionst among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?t5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters!t Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?6 But you have dishonored the poor!t Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?t8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture,t “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”s you are doing well.9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.t10 For the one who obeys the whole law but failst in one point has become guilty of all of it.t11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”s also said, “Do not murder.”s Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.t

13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs overt judgment.

Faith and Works Together

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,t if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faitht save him?s15 If a brother or sistert is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs,t what good is it?17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”t Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith byt my works.

19 You believe that God is one; well and good.t Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.t
20 But would you like evidence,t you empty fellow,t that faith without works is useless?s21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,”s and he was called God’s friend.s24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.